Device for the development of water-power



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

M. MAGINN. DEVICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER POWER. No. 439,165. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MADISON MAGINN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER-POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,165, dated October 28,1890.

Application filed January 18, 1889. Serialll'o. 296,777. (No model.)

full, clear, and exact description of my device, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to improvements in a device for developing the water-power of large bodies of water passing over falls or in swift-running currents, in which a water wheel or motor operates in conjunction with a governing, releasing, and engaging device and improved means of power transmission; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide ways and means whereby large rivers of water, either in falls or in swift-running currents that cannot be controlled by the ordinary means of dam and gates, can be utilized and a large proportion of its power abstracted and used to this purpose; second, to provide ways and means whereby a Water wheel or motor can be placed in contact with or withdrawn from the contact with a moving body of water at will and without alterx ing the natural water way and course; third, to provide ways and means whereby the said water wheel or motor can be operated, regulated, and governed either automatically or at the will of the operator; fourth, to provide ways and means whereby the power of said water wheel or motor can be transmitted and carried to the difierent points and localities as desired, and there placed in connection with and drive and operate mills, factories, machinery, lights, 850.

My invention consists of a water wheel or motor placed and operated upon a movable frame, said frame being mounted upon wheels or rollers and operated upon a fixed stationary frame. movable frame electric generators or dynamos operated by suitable gearing connected to their respective shafts and driven by the said water wheel or motor. The dynamosare for There are also fixed upon said,

the purpose of transforming the mechanical power of the water wheel or motor into electrical energy, which is then transmitted by copper wires, cables, or pipes through conduits to any desired place or locality remote from the water-power-developing device, and there connected to electric motors. These motors are a practical machine for transforming electrical energy back into mechanical power. By this means I am able to furnish consumers with power and light at one and the same time and carried to any distance and locality desired from the water-poWer-developing device. The motor and its machinery are operated and controlled automatically by a hydraulic governing device which receives its force and supply from a small steam-pump or any other suitable source expressly for this purpose. This pump is meant to be placed at any convenient locality, on shore, if preferable, and its force piped to the device. This force is used to move the traveling frame carrying the water wheel or motor, and is the means of bringing the water-wheel in contact with or withdrawing from contact with the falling or moving current of water, which is the means of stopping and starting the waterpower-developing device. The details and combinations of the same will be fully described hereinafter. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which there are two sheets.

Figure lis a side elevation of my device as it would appear adapted to and placed under a water-fall. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device. Fig. 3 is a plan view of an electric motor. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of my device taken through the dotted line .2 z of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a plan view of my device, illustrating the gearing and shafting operating the governing device, shown part in section.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is an overshot water-wheel fixed upon the main driving-shaft A and placed and operated upon a movable frame B, said frame being mounted upon wheels or rollers B which rest and operate upon the fixed frame construction G. The movable frame B carries and contains the water wheel or motor, with its shafting, gearing, and all the machinery represented as connected and pertaining thereto.

D is a hydraulic cylinder fixed and attached to the frame 0 and connected to the movable frame B by the piston-rod D of the hydraulic cylinder D. Said cylinder is provided with and supplied by an independent steam forcepump (not here shown) or other suitable supply of water under pressure, for operating and applying the hydraulic pressure and force necessary for the moving of said pistonrod and the operating of the movable frame B loaded with all of its machinery, (to.

E is a large gear-wheel fixed upon the end of the main shaft A These gears can be placed upon either or both ends of their respective shafts and operate the following gears in connection therewith.

F is a large gear fixed upon the shaft F and placed in connection with the driver E, and also placed in connection with and operating the pinion Gr upon the shaft G There are also fixed upon the shaft G2 the necessary gear-wheels or gearing for driving the four (more or less) electric generators or dynamos HH H H, which are placed and operated upon the movable frame B and become a part of its load.

The wires, cables, or transmitting-tubes W W connected with the diflerent dynamos can be extended and carried any distance remote from the water-power-developing device and there united to electric motors prepared for the same.

For automatically governing and regulating my device, I use the ordinary governor, driven from and by the water wheel or motor and attached to and operating the valve governing the feed or supply from the independent steam force-pump (not here shown) to the hydraulic cylinder D. Ihave shown here connected to the valve K and cylinder D of my device the ordinary governor J, consisting of two heavy balls suspended by links from a spindle and caused to revolve either by belt or shaft connection with the shaft of the motor. In the drawings the governor is driven by a shaft-connection J 3 to the bevel-gears J operating the governor J. When at rest, the balls hang close to the spindle; but when in motion the balls rise by centrifugal force. WVhen the motor is running at its established speed, the links assume a position nearly at forty-five degrees with the spindle. If the speed falls, the balls fall and, acting on the lever J (shown in the elevational views,)

-' open the valve K, controlling the passageway in the supply-pipe K and the ways to and from the cylinder D. If the speed rises, the balls rise and close the valve or act directly upon its equivalent, thus operating the valve K automatically. For a complete description of the valve K see specification of a separate patent allowed me upon a speedregulating device, Serial No. 323,098, January 22, 1890. The pipe K leading from the valve, is the exhaust-outlet.

The necessary preparations and arrangements for this device are as follows: Having excavated the proper area and placed in adequate foundations C? for the device to rest upon and be secured thereto, I place the frame 0 upon the same, as represented. I next secure thereto the hydraulic cylinder D and its paraphernalia of machinery to said frame. I then connect the supply-pipe'K of the cylinder to the steam force-pump, located at any convenient point. The traveling or movable frame B, mounted upon rollers or wheels B is next placed into position upon the frame C,'as represented. I then connect the piston-rod D of the cylinder D to the movable frame'B.

Upon the frame B first place the large waterwheel shaft A in to its position, with the waterwheel and gearing placed thereon; second, place the intermediate shaft F and its connecting-gears into their position; third, place the coun ter-shaft G with its connectinggears for operating the electric generators, governor, &c. Now carry the electric transmitting wires, cables, &c., attached to the electric generators to the electric motors and there connect the same. These motors can be located at any distance remote from the waterpower developing device, as desired. This arrangement completes the device.-

The operation of the device is as follows: Start the hydraulic machinery and force the piston-rod D 'of the cylinder D outward. This moves the frame B, supporting and carrying the water wheel or motor and brings the water-wheel in contact with the moving or falling body of water and causes the waterwheel to rotate, said wheel being connected by the different gears, and by these connections the different dynamos or electric generators are operated. The electric current or energy generated by said electric generators is carried and transmitted through or by the agency of said wires, cables, or transmittingtubes to the electric motors connected therewith, thus operating the motors in any desired place or locality remote from the water-power-developing device.

To stop the device, reverse the movement of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder D, and the hydraulic machinery withdraws the water wheel or motor from its contact with the falling or moving body of water and the device stops.

It is obvious that certain changes might be rected to them as a means of water-power development. To this method I do not lay any claim; but

What I do claim as my invention, and de-.

ator, and a reciprocating hydraulic motor having its piston connected to said movable frame for actuating the same.

3. The combination, with a fixed frame, of a movable frame mounted to slide thereon, a water-wheel and electric generator carried by said movable frame, said wheel being operatively connected to the said electric generator, and a reciprocating hydraulic motor having its piston connected to said movable frame for actuating the same, and a governing device operated by the water-wheel connected to said motor for controlling the same. 30

MADISON MAGINN.

Witnesses:

WM. N. SMITH, G. A. MAGINN. 

